The same judges of the first edition of ‘Kids for Fame’ (2007) are back again this season too. Known for their affability and unbiased judgment, the three judges - Bambi Kevichusa, Theja Meru and Moanungsang – had endeared themselves to both contestants and parents in the last season.
Finishing Touches, the event manager of the second edition of Pheto Music Association’s ‘Kids for Fame’, have also appointed noted pianist Nise Meruno as the mentor of the contest.
The venue for the first audition scheduled on July 1 in Dimapur is Purple Haze Entertainment, 2nd Floor, opposite Vodafone Office, near Nagarjan Junction, at 10 a.m.
The second audition would be held in Kohima on July 2 at Season’s Café, CK Arcade, 4th Floor, opposite Taxi Stand, starting 10.30 am, while the third and final audition would be held in Zunheboto on July 4 at Youth Hall, below Town Hall, at 10.30 am.
Bambi Lon-gchari has been involved in music - singing and playing the piano and keyboard from a very young age. Her early childhood was spent playing the piano, and singing with her father on the guitar.
Bambi Longchari
She later on went on to join Lystra, a well – known Naga Christian Rock band in the 80’s.
After her stint with Lystra, she moved to Chennai and joined ‘Blood and Fire’, a heavy Christian rock band and toured with the band to various cities in India .
As the keyboardist/pianist for the band, she co-wrote songs with the guitarist Chuck Eddy and lead singer Theja Meru.
She still enjoys writing songs, and spends her free time on her guitar and her keyboard. A designer by profession, she is at the moment taking time off to be with her son who is almost a year old.
Moanungsang
Just one of the guys who’s’ passionate about music. Recorded an Ao dialect album in 1994 which proved to be a great success and inspired him to pursue music further. Frontman of the band XTC, which represented Nagaland in Sikkim Centennial Celebration, performed in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and almost all districts of Nagaland and recently toured Goa and Mumbai representing the North Eastern States for Octave Fest 08’.
His foundation as a musician was contemporary and gospel, received formal education in western classical music in Patkai Christian College . Among his achievements, he directed a choir of 150 people and won the first prize in all Ao Baptist Churches Dimapur in 1999 and conducted Naga Choir in Bangalore and won the first prize in All Bangalore Baptist Churches.
Life took a big turn when he signed up for Naga Idol06’ and became the first Naga Idol. His dream of not only playing gigs around and outside Nagaland but conveying message to the people about drugs and disease which surrounds the humanity became a reality after Naga Idol.
Theja Meru
Since his first gig at the local church around 1987-88 he has not looked back. His love for music and singing grew while still a student in Kolkata at the Assemblies of God Church School 1981-1987. His first band was LYSTRA where he was the vocalist. He then joined ‘Blood & Fire’ in 1992. Blood & Fire was a Chennai-based band.
With the band, he toured extensively all over India which was also featured in the ‘Amul India TV Show’. During this time, they released an album titled ‘Face the Music’. While singing with the band, he learned a lot about song writing. He gives full credit to his mentor Chuck Eddy, a graduate of Berkley College USA and lead guitarist of the band for imbibing and imparting in him, valuable lessons on song writing.
After the band members decided to part ways in 1997, he came back home to Nagaland and got involved in many music projects. They include playing the lead role as vocalist in Musical plays: The Prodigal Son (written by R. Kevichusa) and Joseph and His Amazing Multi Colored Dream Coat (Andrew Lloyd Webber). He also started a band called WAVE to promote up-coming local musicians. (courtesy www.nagamusiconline.com)
Nise Meruno (Mentor)
An accomplished concert pianist and talented Bass/baritone started his piano lessons at the age of six under Mrs. Margaret Shishak and later on went to Singapore to pursue his studies. Nise has completed his performer's certificate from Trinity Music College , London , both in piano and voice.
Nise has worked with the American Embassy School Delhi’s Music dept and the opera companies led by world renowned conductors like Marco Balderi, Patricia Panton,Gabriella Boda-Rechner etc. and has performed with Mumbai Chamber Orchestra at the prestigious TATA theatre and with international artists like Tenore Hur Chul Young (Korea), chamber musician Dick Hollander (Holland), Mezzo Soprano Indra Sarah Podewils (Germany), and Soprano Christine Matovich (US). His versatility has taken him to perform at various embassies, car launches, food festivals and also for India's ace designer Vijay Arora recently.